The track is owned by the Hoosier Heritage Port Authority, and earlier this year, they told the Indiana Transportation Museum they needed to make improvements to the track or the train could not run. That’s why the Indiana State Fair train was out of commission this year.

The museum released this statement about plans to get the train running again: “The Museum is continuing collaboration with the Hoosier Heritage Port Authority, and aims to return trains to service during spring of 2017 for the enjoyment of all.”

Last year, more than 11,000 people rode the Polar Bear Express, and the event also provided several hundred thousand dollars in operating revenue to support the educational mission of the museum.

In the meantime, the museum will offer a new stationary holiday event called Polar Bear Junction at the grounds in Forest Park of Noblesville. More details will be released here.